The Campbelltown to Camden Railway, by Ian Dunn.

The Camden line began life as a politically inspired experiment, a rural tramway feeder to the main line. Consequently, it was doomed economic unviability when it became a railway in 1901. For the railway enthusiast, its steep grades and intensive operations made it a mecca, easily accessible from metropolitan Sydney and increasingly quaint in its aspect. This essay explores the origins, building and operation of the line, and the photos dwell particularly on the operations associated with the coal loader at Narellan in the late 1950s.

Bathursts 59 Class Bankers, by Peter Attenborough.

Mainline steam operations over the main western line ceased during the winter of 1967 but it was to be another five years before the last steam locomotives were transferred from Bathurst. In those intervening years, Bathurst depot maintained a small number of engines for yard shunting and bank engine work on the climb out of the Macquarie River valley on either side of the city. This article looks at the role of those engines, in particular the 59 class, which arrived at Bathurst at virtually the same time that mainline operations were drawing to a close.

Troy Junction, by Ray Love.

Troy Junction is situated a short distance north of Dubbo, one of the major western railway centres. Troy Junction is the point where the line to Binnaway diverges from the Coonamble branch line and in this essay, Ray Love reviews the history and traffic operations of the junction which at one-time incorporated stock yards, an abattoir and a quarry.

Kapooka, by Pat Turner & Ray Love.

Retired engineman Pat Turner spent his entire railway career based at Junee, working on the main southern line. In this essay, Pat relates an incident at Kapooka, many years ago, at a time when all southern express trains required assistance in that area.

Traffic Officer, by Russell Bright.

Traffic Officer Russell Bright opts for a less uncertain life style than that of a guard and becomes an assistant station master, initially at Binnaway. He moves through the grades of ASM by way of promotions to Narrabri West and then to Temora. Many of the normal duties, as well as several incidents along the way are described as Russells railway career advances.

In the Midst of Life, by Stephen Halgren.

Eternal vigilance is required in whatever path we take, be it railway of every day. This essay recounts the tragic runaway and derailment of locomotive 5586 and the tragic death of Driver George Dixon at Eastwood in September 1940 which prompted railway poet Frank Brown to pen the ode Eastwood Fatality.